Gair Rhydd

Faith to Faith

Students of faith and non-faith at Cardiff University have rallied their beliefs in the first ever forum on faith.

Following a report by gair rhydd highlighting the inadequacy of Muslim prayer facilities in the University, students of all beliefs were invited to discuss the institution’s provision for religious students.

Santa Cops are coming to town

Philippino police are getting into the Christmas spirit by patrolling the streets in a different kind of uniform

Police in the Philippine capital of Manila are getting into the Christmas spirit by wearing Santa hats on the beat.

Some officers will also be dressed in the full suit and deployed around the city.

Protect Yourself!

gair rhydd’s top tips to keep your deposit safe thanks to Tenancy Deposit Protection

Students across Cardiff have been having trouble getting their deposit money back since, well, forever.

Tenancy Deposit Protection is a law that finally helps. From April 6 2007, all deposits taken by either your agencies or landlords must be protected by a tenancy deposit protection scheme. It’s not very exciting but could save you losing your deposit.

"You’re all children, it doesn’t matter how we speak to you!"

Looking for a house this year? Not all letting agencies will be as professional as you think. gair rhydd investigates bad housing...

Being a student might mean you get discounts, free dental care, and tax free wages, but when it comes to accommodation, Cardiff’s housing might not offer any perks. Because when you live in a student house, you might have to face a nightmare with your landlord or letting agency.

Some of these characters plague students throughout the UK, leaving tenants living in unacceptable conditions. The National Union of Students Housing and Health Survey revealed that 50% of students live with damp, and 40% with mould, but Cardiff seems to have attracted landlords who go beyond negligence and unfit housing.

SHAG week... A Summary

SHAG week completetly took over the Students’ Union last week with volunteers raising awareness about sexual health. Gareth Ludkin provides a round-up of the week

Cardiff University students have been encouraged to stay safe with 5,000 free condoms being given out for SHAG (Sexual Health Awareness Group) week.

Held in the Students’ Union, the event, the first of its kind, saw a week of raising awareness by the SHAG society.

A-Grade Apes

Japanese research reveals that chimpanzees

Chimpanzees are smarter than students, research at a Japanese University has discovered.

The findings from Kyoto University suggest that actually, the animals have a remarkably better photographic memory than humans.

Globetrotting travel tips

British students who are planning to travel, are being encouraged to ‘Know Before You Go’ as part of a Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) scheme.

The campaign has been launched following the release of statistics which highlighted thousands of arrests, deaths and hospitalisations among Britons abroad last year.

Coming soon

Students living in Richmond Road will soon have a new local.

A Varsity bar is set to open in the street in Roath, after councillors granted the pub chain Barracuda a licence for it to be built.

Launching Live

November 23 saw the launch of the Live Music Society CD in CF10.

Three local bands that are featured on the CD performed at the event.

Promising drugs discovery

American drugs company Inhibitex has taken up a world licence on anti-hepatitis drugs discovered at Cardiff University.

Professor Chris McGuigan (pictured right) and Johan Neyts discovered the drugs in the laboratories of the Welsh School of Pharmacy.

Crime time

Students are being warned to take their possessions home with them as findings are released detailing 60 crimes on Salisbury Road in the last year

Students are being urged to use caution this Christmas and take their possessions home with them.

Residents on Salisbury Road, Cathays, have been warned after recent findings revealing that the street has faced up to 60 crimes in the past year.

Getting the ball rolling...

Plans are well underway for next year’s Summer Ball following the announcement that tickets will be on sale from February 1.

Cardiff Students’ Union has announced that tickets will be sold at a discounted price only on the day of release.

House of Commons praise Cardiff University

Successful collaboration with science centres has earned high praise for Cardiff University, which has been recognised by the House of Commons as Wales’ only Beacon for Public Engagement.

The University’s strategic link with Techniquest has been cited as a model for the kind of effective co-ordination and collaboration that leads to increased public engagement activities by universities.

Reforms for NUS after overwhelming majority vote at extraordinary conference

The National Union of Students (NUS) is closer than ever to its most radical reforms after a new draft constitution was passed at the extraordinary conference in Leicester last week.

The motion to introduce the new constitution went through with over a two-thirds majority, which will see it go to a final deciding vote at the annual conference 2008 in Blackpool to be ratified.

A letter of opportunity

International students studying in the UK will soon be in the running for a prestigious award, as the International Student Awards enter their sixth year.

Run by the British Council – the UK’s international organisation for education opportunities and cultural relations, the International Student Awards 2008 also offer up to £2,000 in prize money for the winners.

Not so Topshop?

A peaceful protest by People and Planet took place outside Topshop in Cardiff city centre last Thursday.

The student campaigning group protested as part of a national day of action to expose the impact of the company’s business practices on wages and labour standards for workers in the fashion industry.

Colombia hostages may still be alive

Hostages held in Colombia by leftist guerrillas may still be alive after six years in jungle-captivity.

According to recent evidence, high-profile hostage Ingrid Betancourt and her fellow hostages are thought to still be living.